Ski construction



Jun 22, 1965 w. HUSAK 3,190,668

I SKI CONSTRUCTION Filed April 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 William Husak INVENTOR.

June 22, 1965 w. HUSAK SKI CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9. 1963 William l-luSak INVENTOR.

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3,190,668 SKI CGNSTRUCTIGN William Husak, Curwensviile, Pa. (1708 N. Terrell, Midland, Tex.) Filed Apr. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 271,763 3 Claims. (Cl. 230-12) This invention relates to a novel and useful ski construction and more specifically to a ski construction which may be utilized both on snow and water.

The ski construction of the instant invention includes an elongated body portion terminating at its forward end in an upwardly curving toe portion. An upright standard is provided and its lower end is secured to the body portion of the ski intermediate its opposite ends. A seat construction of any configuration is aflixed to the top of the standard and may therefore be utilized to support a person using the ski construction of the instant invention.

Inasmuch as skis, when travelling at high speed over both snow and water afford a bumpy ride, the seat construction secured to the upper end of the standard includes a mounting plate which is rigidly secured to the upper end of the standard from which a generally horizontally disposed seat member is supported for movement toward and away from the upper surface of the mounting plate between limit positions. Means is provided for yieldingly urging the seat member away from the mounting plate and in this manner, the ride given a person seated on the seat member will be cushioned to some extent.

If the ski construction of the instant invention is to be utilized on snow, suitable bracing means may be secured between the standard and fore and aft portions of the ski body spaced distances from the lower end of the standard. Still further, if the ski construction is to be used in water, the lower end of the standard is removably secured to the ski by means of a socket member rigidly secured to the ski into which the lower end of the standard may be readily removably secured. In this manner, a person riding the ski construction of the instant invention on water may mount the single ski in a conventional manner and then secure the standard in its socket after the ski construction has reached planing speed.

The main object of this invention is to provide a ski construction which will provide the rider with a novel and exciting form of entertainment and which may be used on the water as well as on snow.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object is to provide a ski construction including an upright standard having a seat member mounted on the upper end thereof whereby the rider of the ski construction may assume a restful seated position.

Yet another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a seat member which is yieldingly supported from the upper end of the standard whereby the ride afforded by the ski construction will be cushioned to some extent.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ski construction in accordance with the preceding objects including an upright standard which may be vertically adjusted in height and secured in adjusted position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ski construction in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to ride so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and fun to use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accom- United States Patent lhldddih Patented June 22, 1965 panying drawings forming a part hereofrwherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the ski construction of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the longitudinal center line of the ski construction;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional View taken through a portion of the seat construction;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a portion of the seat construction and showing the manner in which it may be secured to the upper end of the standard;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of one of the inclined brace members of the standard for the ski construction;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of ski construction suited for use on water; 7

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the standard of the modified form of ski construction illustrated in FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 3-8 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane indicated by the section line 9-9 of FIGURE 8; I

FIGURE 10 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon a plane indicated by section line 1tl10 of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a still further modified form of ski construction shown with the standard and seat assembly thereof removed.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the ski construction of the instant invention. The ski construction 10 comprises an elongated ski referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 and including an elongated body portion 14 which terminates at its forward end in an upwardly curving toe portion 16.

A fitting 18 including a mounting base portion 20 is secured to the body portion 14 in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 22 and includes an upwardly projecting externally threaded cylindrical portion 24 with which the internally threaded lower end of the lower section 26 of a standard generally referred to by reference numeral 28 is threadedly engaged. The standard 28 also includes an upper section 3*!) and it will be noted that the lower section 26 has a pair of aligned apertures 32 formed therein which are registerable with pairs of aligned apertures 34 formed in the upper section 30. An adjustment pin 36 is utilized to secure the sections 26 and in ad justed extended position and is secured through the lower and upper sections 26 and 30 by means of a threaded fastener 38.

A fitting 40 is also provided for the upper end of the standard 28 and includes a base portion 42 and a depending internally threaded cylindrical portion 44 in which the externally threaded upper end portion 46 of the upper section 39 is threadedly engaged.

The base or mounting plate 42 is secured to a lower plate 4% of the seat construction which is generally referred to by the reference numeral 5th. The base plate 42 is secured to the lower plate 43 by means of fasteners 52 and it will be noted that the seat construction 5t) also includes an upper plate 54 to which a seat member generally referred to by the reference numeral 56 is secured by means of suitable fasteners 53.

A plurality of headed guide studs 69 have their shank portions 61 received through apertures 63 formed in the upper plate 54 and their heads 65 held captive between a O the seat 56 and the upper plate 54. The shank portions 61 have their lower ends slidably received through apertures 62 provided therefor in the lower plate 48 and the shank portions 61 include diametrically enlarged lower terminal end portions 63 which prevent the studs 60 from being withdrawn through the apertures 62. Further, each of the studs 60 has a compression spring 63 disposed thereabout between the upper and lower plates 54 and 48.

The ski construction also includes a pair of anchor plates 64 which are recessed in and secured to the upper surface of the ski 12 in any convenient manner. The plates 64 include eye portions 66 with which corresponding hooked end portions 68 of a pair of turnbuckles 70 are engaged. The other pair of corresponding hooked ends 72 of the turnbuckles 70 are engaged with eye end portions 74 carried by the opposite ends of anchor member 76 secured through the lower section 26.

From FIGURE 1 of the drawings it may be seen that the seat member 56 includes a pair of handles 80 which project laterally outwardly from the opposite sides of the seat member 56. In addition, it will be seen that the seat member 56 includes a rear portion 81 which is rearwardly and upwardly inclined.

With attention now directed to FIGURES 6 through 11 of the drawings there may be seen a modified form of seat construction generally referred to by the reference numeral 94 which also includes a ski 84 having a body portion 86 and a toe portion 87.

The ski 84 has a socket member 88' recessed in and secured to its upper surface which defines a forwardly opening socket. The lower end of the standard 90 of the ski construction 82 includes a circumferentially extending radial flange 92 which is receivable in the socket or recess formed by the socket member 88. When seated in the recess formed by the socket member 83, the lower end of the standard 90 may be removed from engagement with the socket member 88 only upon movement of the lower end of the standard 90 in one direction longitudinally of the body portion 86. It is to be noted that the socket member 88 could open either forwardly or rearwardly in the event the ski construction is also to be used on snow. In addition, the rigid standard 90 could be replaced by a vertically adjustable standard such as the standard 30. Still further, the plane or seat member 94 secured to the upper end of the standard 90 could also be replaced by the seat construction 50.

From FIGURES 8 through of the drawings it may be seen that the ski 84 may be constructed of wood, plastic, metal or any other suitable material and that it may include a longitudinally extending sealed cavity 96 in order to form an air pocket whereby the ski 84 will float in water.

The ski 84 also includes a shoe portion generally referred to by the reference numeral 98 which is recessed in and secured to the upper surface of the ski 84 in any convenient manner. The shoe portion 98 defines two rearwardly opening recesses 100 and 102 which project above the upper surface of the ski 84 and are disposed a spaced distance forwardly of the lower end of the standard 90. The shoe portion 98 may also be constructed of plastic material and may be either flexible or semirigid as preferred.

With attention now directed to FIGURE 11 of the drawings there will be seen a still further modified form of ski construction generally referred to by the reference numeral 106 which may be considered to be substantially the same as the ski construction 10 with the exception being that the ski 108 thereof is arcuate in longitudinal vertical cross-section throughout substantially its entire length. Other than this one difference, the ski construction 106 may be constructed in a manner identical to the ski construction 10. However, if it is desired the lower end of the standard (not shown) in the ski construction 106 may be externally threaded and threadedly engaged in the internally threaded upwardly opening socket 110 which is secured to the ski 108.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What 1 claim as new is as follows:

1. A ski construction comprising a generally horizontally disposed ski having an elongated body portion terminating at its forward end in an upwardly curving toe portion, an upright standard, means securing the lower end of said standard to said body portion intermediate its opposite ends, and seat means secured to the upper end of said standard, said means securing the lower end of said standard to said body portion comprising means on said body portion defining an elongated channel open at one end, closed at the other end and extending longitudinally of said body portion, said channel opening upwardly as well as outwardly of said one end, the lower end of said standard including a diametrically enlarged end portion projecting outwardly from opposite sides of the standard, said channel being of a cross-sectional size and shape snugly and removably receiving said diametrically enlarged end portion through said one end thereof and closely embracing the portion of said standard immediately above said diametrically enlarged end portion.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said standard includes upper and lower telescoped tubular sections and means removably engageable with each of said sections releasably securing said sections in adjusted extended positions relative to each other.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said seat means comprises a seat assembly including a mounting plate rigidly secured to the upper end of said standard and a generally horizontally disposed seat member mounted from above said mounting plate for movement between limit positions toward and away from said plate, means yieldingly urging said seat member away from said plate, a plurality of depending guides carried by said seat memher, said mounting plate having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough through which the lower ends of said guides are slidingly received and secured, and a coil spring disposed about each of said guides between said seat member and said mounting plate, said seat member having an apertured mounting plate secured to its undersurface through which the upper end of said guides project, the upper end of said guides including diametrically enlarged head portions held captive between said upper mounting plate and said seat member, the opposite ends of said coil springs being disposed between said mounting plates.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,181,025 4/16 Malmstrom 280-12 1,354,995 10/20 Oldakowski 28023 1,655,713 1/28 Scoville 28012 1,954,830 4/34 Richards 28012 2,475,250 7/49 Petersen 280-12.1 2,815,518 12/57 Kuehn 9310 3,003,778 10/61 Taggart 280-12 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,625 11/93 Sweden. 223,237 6/ 10 Germany. 681,924 10/39 Germany.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SKI CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SKI HAVING AN ELONGATED BODY PORTION TERMINATING AT ITS FORWARD END IN AN UPWARDLY CURVING TOE PORTION, AN UPRIGHT STANDRAD, MEANS SECURING THE LOWER END OF SAID STANDARD TO SAID BODY PORTION INTERMEDIATE ITS OPPOSITE ENDS, AND SEAT MEANS SECURED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID STANDARD, SAID MEANS SECURING THE LOWER END OF SAID STANDARD TO SAID BODY PORTION COMPRISING MEANS ON SAID BODY PORTION DEFINING AN ELONGATED CHANNEL OPEN AT ONE END, CLOSED AT THE OTHER END AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BODY PORTION, SAID CHANNEL OPENING UPWARDLY AS WELL AS OUTWARDLY OF SAID ONE END, THE LOWER END OF SAID STANDARD INCLUDING A DIAMETRICALLY ENLARGED END PORTION PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE STANDARD, SAID CHANNEL BEING OF A CROSS-SECTIONAL SIZE AND SHAPE SNUGLY AND REMOVABLY RECEIVING SAID DIAMETRICALLY ENLARGED END PORTION THROUGH SAID ONE END THEREOF AND CLOSELY EMBRACING THE PORTION OF SAID STANDARD IMMEDIATELY ABOVE SAID DIAMETRICALLY ENLARGED END PORTION. 